Guyana looks to leverage British engineering expertise to support large-scale projects

…aims to integrate sustainable practices into upcoming civil works

The Guyanese Government is looking to leverage British engineering expertise to support large-scale projects here.
This is according to a statement from the Public Works Ministry following a meeting between subject Minister Juan Edghill and newly appointed British High Commissioner to Guyana Joseph Guy Fisher.
According to the Ministry, Edghill “steered the discussion in the direction of leveraging British engineering expertise to support large-scale projects, integrating green technologies and sustainable practices into upcoming civil works, and exploring opportunities for knowledge sharing and technical training between British firms and Guyanese counterparts.”

The statement did not detail which projects are under consideration, but the Guyanese Government is currently pursuing an aggressive transformational agenda to modernise infrastructure and diversify the economy beyond oil and gas.
In fact, during the meeting, Minister Edghill highlighted the Government’s plans, noting that “international partnership is a cornerstone of the nation’s strategy to modernise its landscape.”
According to the Ministry, the meeting, which was held at the Minister’s office, served as a pivotal platform for deepening the bilateral relationship between Guyana and the United Kingdom, specifically within the realm of national infrastructure development.
“The dialogue underscored a shared vision for high-quality, transparent, and efficient project delivery – values that align with the Government of Guyana’s commitment to providing value for money and world-class facilities for its citizens,” the statement noted.
According to the missive, High Commissioner Fisher reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Guyana’s growth.
“As Guyana approaches its milestone 60th independence anniversary, this meeting signals a continued era of international cooperation aimed at ensuring the nation’s infrastructure keeps pace with its rapid economic trajectory,” the press release further highlighted.
Earlier this year, President Dr Irfaan Ali met with the chief executive officer of the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF), Tim Read, in London, where they discussed key infrastructure projects in Guyana.
A brief statement from the Office of the President noted that key issues discussed included current pipeline projects such as the CJIA terminal expansion and the expansion of UKEF’s portfolio in Guyana.
It was also noted that teams from the Guyana Government and UKEF would have follow-up meetings to further advance these discussions.
The UKEF is the UK’s official export credit agency, which aids countries and private companies across the world to access the financial support they need to procure from the UK, thus unlocking the potential of the UK supply chain by making their bids more competitive.
Last October, it was announced that UKEF raised its financing capacity from £2.1 billion to £3 billion for both the Guyanese Government and the local private sector to tap into.
At the time of the announcement, President Ali had set out his priorities for possible UKEF collaboration over the next five years, including the second phase of the Linden to Lethem Road Expansion Project, from Mabura Hill to Lethem, as well as the deep-water port facility in Berbice and the modernisation of the country’s electricity transmission system.
Currently, the ongoing construction of a second terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) – Guyana’s main port of entry – is being financed in part by the UKEF.